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four EC-cut diamond with Aset and DiamXray pic. Plz help

S

ShawnZhang

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 6, 2010
Messages
20
Hey, everyone.

My girlfriend does not like the round diamond because she think it is too shine. So we decide to got a EC diamond ring as an engagement ring.

The problem is that I do not know which diamond is better in EC case. I know the round rock require a Aset pic to have much red area with some tiny black spots. While the step cut does not target for shine so I can not read the Aset picture well.

Here are five diamonds that I found online, could you give me some advice?

The first one is 1.18ct G VVS2. Table 63% Depth 61.1%, 5.4*7.56*3.3.

I think too much light leak around the corners, am I right?




The second one is 1.2ct G VVS2, Table 63% Depth 68.18% 5.09*7.43*3.47
I think it have the same problem with the first one.

1.18ct G VVS2 aset.jpg

1.18ct G VVS2 Xray.jpg

1.2ct G VVS2 aset.jpg

1.2ct G VVS2 Xray.jpg
 
I think other three rocks do not have such problem, but I still cant tell which one is better.

3rd: 1.12ct E VS1. T: 62% D: 67% ; 4.94*7.16*3.31. I love this one, VS1 make it cheaper.




The 4th one: 1.21ct E VVS2. T: 63%, D: 70.34% 5.14*6.97*3.62. I worry about its D. I think 70.34% is too deeper.

1.12ct E VS1 aset.jpg

1.12ct E VS1 Xray.jpg

1.21ct E VVS2 aset.jpg

1.21ct E VVS2 Xray.jpg
 
The 5th one is 1.12ct D VS1. T:62% D: 62.35%. 5.08*7.18*3.17.

The data of this one looks better than 3nd and 4th. But it has more green area. I wonder why. Is good step cut rock naturally have less red area?




Please help me out this mess. I think fancy rocks are much much more complicated than a round one. Many thanks

1.12ct D VS1 aset.jpg

1.12ct D VS1 Xray.jpg
 
Have Jon shoot you a video then pick.
 
Well, I had written a letter to Jon.

But I still want to know the principles of Aset pic of EC diamonds.
 
Anyone else have some ideas?
 
If you are serious about these stones, then pick up the phone and call GOG. A phone call will get immediate results. I would ask Jon which is the best and then have a video shot of the 2-3 best in his opinion.
 
HI all.

To be honesty, I do not feel very well now.

I think this forum is a place where people share knowledge about diamonds. I really thank for all your posts, which educate me the importance of Cuts, of new tech as Aset and etc. Before this post, I have read many posts in the forum and find people are very friendly and willing to help. But when I show several pics which contain a certain seller's name, all voices silence. The only answers I got is: call he and buy it.

It make me worried. Do this forum has a secret rule that an invisible border lies when a customer come into certain seller? Maybe Jon is a saint, but forgive me because I am a novice in diamond area and hear nothing of him.

I am seriously about buying a good cut EC rock, but not means that I have to choose one of them if all of them are not good cut. So I want to have some knowledge about the Aset reading. If people said to me: call Jon and let he tell you whether these rocks are good, then I thanks them. If they tell me call him and simply buy one, it makes me worried.

Let me explain a bit more. I have contacted with GOG. I admit that I dare not to phone Jon simply because my oral English sucks. So I write a email and a madam answer me. The madam recommended me two rocks: One is 1.12ct E VS1 and another is 1.18ct G VVS2. She give me no reason behind the recommend but she do say a rock video is available if I request. I rewrite another email to thank her and say my doubt: I think the second one(aka the first rock in this post) leak much light around the corner. In yesterday's email she confessed and promised that she would think twice and would give me answer in next day because it was night in her time zone.

So this is the reason that I really really want to hear people's commits of these Aset pics. Sometimes even a saint would make mistakes, am I right? I do believe hear ideas from people other than the seller is very important.

At last, I don't mean to offend anyone. I still honor GOG because he is willing to provide me with the videos, while Bluenile refuse to give me Aset pics.
 
Karl used to be the resident EC expert but since he has become a trade person now, and is working with GOG selling his Octavia cut, he has a conflict of interest and feels best not to voice his opinion.
 
ShawnZhang,
I can hear the frustration in you post. Sorry for the lack of support...its not that we dont want to help. The problem
is that there are no real experts with EC on the forum. Like SC said, Karl was our expert but now it is a conflict of
interest for him to comment on the stones you posted.

Fancy cut stones are just hard to buy. They are not cut and dried like rounds.

Maybe you can become out next expert (I know you are willing to learn). Have you read some of the threads about
EC? Karl's username used to be STRMRDR so pay close attention to what he has to say.

https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds ... ut-diamond

written by Karl
https://www.pricescope.com/journal/perfo ... t-diamonds

Thread with discussions on EC
rockytalky/helpful-threads-archive-t94650.html

I hope this helps,
tyty
 
Ditto what Tyty said, but beyond that - we know that GOG will make videos, and video will absolutely give you the most accurate "real life" estimation of how each stone looks. GOG makes great videos showing stones in different lighting conditions and I think it is likely that once you have seen the stones performing "live" that your decision will be much easier.

I did not buy my EC from GOG, but I did make enquiries with them and I have absolutely no doubt that they would have gone to the ends of the earth to find me a great stone - and they will for you, too. Wait for the video and in the meantime try to be patient!
 
ditto, with ECs it is hard to give opinion solely based on the images and aset images, as far as I know you need to see how it sparkles when it moves so video or vendor opinion is best for that. I think Lorelei is an expert on ECs but haven't seen her around lately. I would call GOG and see what they have to say, get them to make a video so you can pick one that appears to your eyes.

the only thing I can comment on is that the ones you posted have different L/W ratios...is there one that is more appealing to you?
 
Also, once GOG makes the video you can post it and have people tell you which one they like the best and why.
 
I am sorry if you feel we have not helped you!

I think that video is the best way to judge ECs, in addition to having the opinion of a trusted vendor like Jon who can look at them with his own eyes. So that is why I suggested to call and talk to Jon and have video shot. THEN we can help you more!
 
HI, thanks for your kindly replay. I do apologize again to anyone who think he is offended, which I did not mean to.

Yesterday, Jon give me a video of all this five. the address is :

http://www.vimeo.com/9887130

They are all pretty at the first glance. Personally I love No.2 better, because I think it is more quiet and elegant when Jon show me the spark Sci- of all five stones. I think No.3, NO.4 are too noisy.

Perhaps due to my color amblyopia, I cannot tell much difference of the fire of these cute rocks.

Jon promise me to explain his favorites on Tues.

Could you give me some ideas about your own favorites? Any suggestions are welcomed.
 
Great video!

Watching them all 5 I eliminated 1 and 5 right off, I just thought they did not have the same life that the others had. Then it turned out 2, 3, and 4 were also shown in the window shot, making me think they were the better stones in Jon's view too, so I narrowed it down to those options.

From those three, I eliminated 3 by the window. It was darker than I would like to see, and I thought 2 and 4 were much better.

So my picks are 2 (E VS1) or 4 (G VVS). I think either will look lovely an elegant and not all all "noisy". You will so rarely wear the diamond in spot lighting that the most typical view will be like the window shot at the end. Lively and full of contrast and scintillation is a good good thing and both of those seemed to show it for me.

Take Jon's advice seriously, though, when you talk to him. He really knows his stuff and has seen them in person.
 
Wow...that was really a nice set of ECs. Ok, so I'm no expert but here is what I saw....

#1 - didnt like because the width of the corners coming together disappear before it comes to the point. With all the other
stones the corner angles slowly taper off until the points meet in the middle (I really mean upper middle and lower middle).
With this stone the tapering off ends early and it just has straight lines coming together in the middle. If you look at one of
the static pictures you can see it pretty well.
So...I dont care for this one.

#2 - liked...the corners are nice and it looked bigger to me than #1 even though I think they are close in size

#3 - didnt like...seemed like the stone has too much corners. The corners come together too far toward the middle of the stone.

#4 - liked - looked like it had bigger rectangles of light coming down the sides (not sure if that is good or bad)

#5 - didnt like the l/w ratio on this...it looked too fat compared to the other stones.

So, for me, I would like to see #2 and #4 side-by-side.

Hope that helps.
tyty

EDIT - I did not read DD's post before I posted because I did not want to be influenced by it. Now that I have gone back and read
her post we have picked out the same 2 stones. I think we got there by different means but we picked the same two (its a sign)!
 
sorry you were upset as stated I have a business relationship with gog so I have to be careful.
get a vid really was the best answer.
View the vid and pay the most attention to the last segment in the holders it is clear which 2 are the best, either one will be fine.
Making that determination from a still image and ASET is less accurate and harder.
 
I think my favorite it #2. I did also like #4. Unlike the others, though, I was also rather fond of #3. I definitely see a window, but I really liked the play of light and dark. I suspect if it were me I'd be choosing b/t #2 and #3, but that may just mean there's something wrong with my head!
 
I think I like 2 the best.
 
Thanks again for all your quickly responses.

At first, I like No.2 and No5. But after read your posts, I re-watch the video and have to agree with you. No. 5 is not a good choice. Thanks.

@ Dreamer_D.

I still be a little worried about No.4 is too noisy. You said the most typical view would be like the window shot at the end. So I watch it again. Sometime I cannot see straight into the rock because it return so much sunshine, which make me believe: When first seeing my girlfriend, people will notice her ring immediately. Personally I do not want that happen. Neither does my girlfriend. So I am not sure whether No. 4 is a good choice.

@tyty333.

At the first of the video, when Jon said No.1 and No.2 have visible difference, I cannot find them, which make me a little depressed. Thanks for you point the difference to me. I notice you do not like No.3 because of its flat corners. Do you think the corner of No.3 and No.4 are more like glass which leak so many light?

@Hest88

I agree. I love No.3 better than No.4 for its windows. The contrast, shadow Vs light, make the stone vivid and appealing. I think No. 4 a bit dull compared to No.3. Maybe we share the same things wrong in our head, Lol.


It seems all guys, including me, love No.2 most. Thanks.
 
ShawnZhang said:
HI all.

To be honesty, I do not feel very well now.

I think this forum is a place where people share knowledge about diamonds. I really thank for all your posts, which educate me the importance of Cuts, of new tech as Aset and etc. Before this post, I have read many posts in the forum and find people are very friendly and willing to help. But when I show several pics which contain a certain seller's name, all voices silence. The only answers I got is: call he and buy it.

It make me worried. Do this forum has a secret rule that an invisible border lies when a customer come into certain seller? Maybe Jon is a saint, but forgive me because I am a novice in diamond area and hear nothing of him.

I am seriously about buying a good cut EC rock, but not means that I have to choose one of them if all of them are not good cut. So I want to have some knowledge about the Aset reading. If people said to me: call Jon and let he tell you whether these rocks are good, then I thanks them. If they tell me call him and simply buy one, it makes me worried.

Let me explain a bit more. I have contacted with GOG. I admit that I dare not to phone Jon simply because my oral English sucks. So I write a email and a madam answer me. The madam recommended me two rocks: One is 1.12ct E VS1 and another is 1.18ct G VVS2. She give me no reason behind the recommend but she do say a rock video is available if I request. I rewrite another email to thank her and say my doubt: I think the second one(aka the first rock in this post) leak much light around the corner. In yesterday's email she confessed and promised that she would think twice and would give me answer in next day because it was night in her time zone.

So this is the reason that I really really want to hear people's commits of these Aset pics. Sometimes even a saint would make mistakes, am I right? I do believe hear ideas from people other than the seller is very important.

At last, I don't mean to offend anyone. I still honor GOG because he is willing to provide me with the videos, while Bluenile refuse to give me Aset pics.
Click to expand...

Hi SZ,
Seems I am too late here to help much, but this is what I do when buying from a distance.
Download the GemAdviser software (I use the full DiamCalc, but GA will do the job).
Then open each of the stones in seperate windows and use the light globe dropdown to view in ASET.
Then rock each stone a little along its long axis (sideways) and see:
1. if the blue areas turn red (they will show as a storng flash to either your left or right eye)
2. if the blue stays blue (then the stone will be dark throughout all rocking to both eyes - none seem like that will be a problem from the face up views)
3. look for leakage areas (they are white in Jon's better backlit ASET - the free Gem Adviser only has the black back). So areas that remain black or blue and then turn black will show up as dark dead areas.

Hope that helps.
 
Shawn...I viewed the last segment of the video as Karl suggested. It seemed like the first 2 stones (stones 2 & 3) acted more
alike. The 3rd stone seemed to act different (stone 4). In the 3rd stone I saw bigger flashes of white where it looked like it
was reflecting from more than 1 step at a time instead of showing contrast between the steps. I wish I knew what I was looking
for. Stone 3 in that clip is a very bright stone but I wonder about the lack of contrast?

If it is the first two that Karl though looked the best, then I would go with stone 2 (the original one you liked). I thought
stone 3 had too much corners.

Have you been able to talk with Jon yet? Let us know what he says.

Karl...if you read this can you give us some generic info on what we should be looking for? I think things are pretty obvious
to you but I'm somewhat clueless in the step-cut world. I can only tell shawn what I see. Whether some of it is good or bad
I do not know.
 
I also wouldn't worry about "noisiness" actually. No EC is really going to be noisy, and though it looks flashy blown up on the screen, remember in real life it's actually going to be pretty small sitting on her hand. It will be lovely, and bright, but it's not going to be something that calls attention to itself in a major way.
 
I think with either of the options you have narrowed it to, you really do NOT need to worry about people noticing her ring first. I suppose in the end it depends a little on the social circle you live in, whether they will notice the ring or not, but an EC is not noise at all and these are not humongous diamonds. I think that you should get the stone with the best optics and then get used to it giving off some life. I have owned ECs and they are very subtle in their appearance. Don't worry.

If you are really worries about attracting attention then I would get a smaller diamond -- still with awesome optics though. Smaller stones I think attract a little less attention than larger, though people will notice a beautoful well cut diamond no matter what.

I own a 1.7ct RB that is very lively, and people rarely/never comment to me about it. You will perhaps be surprised how little other people actually care about your ring! 8)
 
tyty333 said:
Karl...if you read this can you give us some generic info on what we should be looking for? I think things are pretty obvious
to you but I'm somewhat clueless in the step-cut world. I can only tell shawn what I see. Whether some of it is good or bad
I do not know.
Click to expand...
once you are past the outline and basic stuff like is it returning light or dead.
The next thing you look at is the dark zones, size, shape, location, do they flash within a reasonable amount of tilt?
If they don't then they are dead zones.
Large dead zones are bad.

In the center stone in the holders(last segment) in the video you see large dark zones. (diamond #3 I think)
It does tend to flash within a reasonable amount of tilt for the most part.
For someone who loves contrasty diamonds that one is ok but a lot of people will see it as to dark at that size.
In a 1/2 ct it is the look I would go for because they need the contrast but in larger sizes there can be to much contrast.

That is why you need video.
 
Thanks Karl for your comments.

So, it looks like it is between stones 2 and 4 from the original video. So it looks like we're back to stones 2 and 4. I have to
go watch the video again to see what Karl is saying.

What are you thinking Shawn (or are you sleeping right now)?
 
There are indeed emerald cut experts on the forum ShawnZhang.
If you read forum rules, you'll see that tradespeople ( actual experts) are not allowed to comment on stones of other sellers.
So, general questions not mentioning particular stones can be answered by true experts.

IMO Good digital photos, Video, and a strong money back guarantee are your best friends in deciding on stones.
 
HI all.

Thanks for your helps. I just wake up. Sorry that not reply your words quickly. As I work in Hong Kong, I guess our wake up time is difference. I think this is the amazing point of internet and of the forum, for that I can seek the help of experts like you.

Jon will talk to me Tues, so I will talk with him tonight.

Personally I like No.2 better. The first reason is that it is my first pick on my instinct.

Secondly I love the Aset of this rock better.

Last but not least, beside Cuts, No. 2 is better than No.4 at other criteria. It is E VS1, while No.4 is G VVS. I think the higher color is always welcomed while higher clarity is not necessary. The price of No.2 is also a bit lower than that of No.4.

Wish my girlfriend will love it too. lol
 
ShawnZhang said:
HI all.

Last but not least, beside Cuts, No. 2 is better than No.4 at other criteria. It is E VS1, while No.4 is G VVS. I think the higher color is always welcomed while higher clarity is not necessary. The price of No.2 is also a bit lower than that of No.4.
Click to expand...

I agree with your reasoning here completely! I think an E color EC would be just wonderful.
 
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